#devdrabbles

It’s Worth The Effort.

Thin digits moved to brush sweat and grime away from above his line of vision. Orion exhaled slow and steady as he shifted on his pedes. Each of his movements were steadfast and calculated, allowing little room for error. The archivist was quick to counter, and even quicker to lash out. The very tip of his sword nicked the gladiator's massive silver chassis that heaved heavy intakes as they sparred with an unwavering intensity.

Megatronus smirked, despite the small wound that began to burn from the fresh exposure to the blistering atmosphere of the gladiatorial arena. "You have improved remarkably since our last session," he observed. "Should I be concerned that I have since been replaced?"

Orion grinned at the genuine banter. He released a heavy breath that made his entire frame tremble, although his grin never subsided. He steadied himself with his narrow sword protecting just below his jawline, still cautious to completely let his guard down despite the casual conversation Megatronus engaged.

"You have not," the archivist reassured. He lowered his blade for just a moment, "Although, you are right to be concerned. I have since practiced. Your previous victories in the arena are excellent to aid in my studies."

Megatronus took to a challenging stance, "And what have you learned?"

Orion leaned forward, "I have learned that improvement comes from what you observe in others, so that you may apply such knowledge for your own benefit."

Megatronus's expression raised, "I am not impressed by many of my trainees. Although, you seem to always be the exception. You would make a fine warrior, Orion Pax."

The archivist grinned a bit wider, showing off a set of straight white denta. And with that, the pair straightened out their stances and continued to spar. Megatronus moved his frame with a practiced ease that flowed naturally, given his extensive time and training that has proved to bestow the title of champion upon him. 

Orion Pax was a novice who moved with a different kind of diligence. The archivist was not built for battle. He was small in stature, compared to that of a gladiator. Although, he possessed vigor and stamina. He was determined and dexterous, and it showed in each of his strikes. He could stand his ground against Megatronus, though it was hardly an easy feat. In fact, it was quite far from easy, but the archivist had extensive training from Megatronus himself which proved to be successful in spars such as this one.

Amidst their sparring, Orion recognized a fault in the gladiator's stance that provided him the opportunity to gain the upper hand. His wrists worked diligently as he moved to thrust the edge of his sword against the blunt edge of Megatronus's larger blade. The force was enough to surprise the gladiator who found himself stumbling back. 

Orion replied to the gladiator with a certain tone that was almost soft enough to stop Megatronus in his tracks.

"If I have improved, it is only because you are quite the mentor," Orion admitted. His monotone was humble, still the words he spoke were prideful. The archivist never faltered from the fight as he explained himself.

Clerks Can Be Agile, Too. 

Megatronus grinned as he studied Orion Pax’s movements. It was genuine in its nature, yet still appeared challenging. He moved his larger frame with easy in every stride, avoiding Orion’s every pending blow.

The unskilled librarian was quite agile. He even held a potential vigilance that the champion gladiator admired.

Orion Pax was relentless in his every move, each one calculated and paced.

Never one to be haste, even when it came to that of sparring. He was quick and tactful, almost as if he battled with his intricate thoughts and his frame just happened to mirror them.

Megatronus appreciated his determination, despite his apparent lack of strength in comparison.

“I must admit,” the gladiator began, even as the archivist spun his frame to throw his lower pede against Megatronus’s shin. “Your efforts are indeed admirable, my friend.”

Orion hummed, his deep monotone slipping from his young lips, “Perhaps I am ready to fight amongst your men.”

Megatronus had to laugh, “My men would crush you.”

The archivist mirrored Megatronus’s swift movements against him, letting his servo push against Megatronus with a commendable force as his frame spun to follow his back kick. Surprisingly, the gladiator found himself stumbling a few steps back.

“While I do not doubt that, I can assure you I would best their agility,” Orion humbly laughed.

His fluent dodges came naturally, almost like clockwork.

It was no secret among the pair that Orion Pax could quite easily be taken down, but Megatronus delayed, for he actually enjoyed sparring with the librarian. He had no intention of overwhelming Orion, instead he simply chose to mentor the curious archivist. Orion was surprisingly unpredictable, despite his lack of practice in the field of battle. Every choice strike was steadfast, some of which genuinely caught the gladiator off his guard.

Megatronus watched Orion carefully, however, noticing his stance was off just barely shy of an inch.

It was an undeniably amateur mistake that Megatronus had witnessed innumerable times.

Orion threw his servo toward Megatronus, unmindful of his mistake. The gladiator easily stepped forward to slip a pede between Orion’s own and reached forward with a heavy hand to twist the archivist’s servo until he spun all the way around. Orion felt all of the breath deep in his chassis escape his lips as he quickly felt his frame collide with the wall. Megatronus smirked slightly. It was an expression that Orion didn’t particularly appreciate.

“What was that about your agility?” Megatronus lightly taunted.  

Orion huffed, struggling to move against Megatronus’s firm pin. He could feel those digits tighten around his frame, and his intakes caught in his throat. “I never said I could best you, Megatronus.”

“But you could best the ones I’ve spent strenuous eons training?” Megatronus questioned the archivist’s confidence.

You Won’t Know Where You Stand.

Orion’s narrow servos lashed out to shove Megatronus’s lower chassis with a force that was admirable, yet pitiful against the structure of a gladiator.

“I defended you!” the archivist spoke with a clenched jaw. His servo raised to point an accusing digit.

“I spoke my piece to Alpha Trion. I insisted that it was not by your order. I gave my word. He is to tell the Council of my report. If it is even suggested that I falsified your involvement with the bombings of Vos- they may disregard my opinion entirely. They will start to assume that I am conspiring with the Decepticons,” Orion scolded. His words were burning with resentment, “The Council already believes that you are their head.”

Anger seethed from those clenched denta with every word that brought along the realization of Megatronus’s deceit.

Orion’s servos extended again to attempt some effort of a distance between them.

Megatronus hardly cooperated.

Instead, the gladiator, who greatly towered Orion, brought his own large servos out to grasp either side of Orion’s shoulder blades. He lifted the archivist just barely off the silver ground and moved to thrust him against the closest wall in the dimly lit hall.

Orion felt the heavy breath in his chassis escape his lips as the back of his frame roughly met the silver tinted wall.

His bright azure optics flashed with resentment as they met with Megatronus’s own stare. The varying shades of azure met through the darkness of the dim hall. 

Orion trembled with rage. He struggled to free himself. His spiraling optics never faltered.

“You would do well to remember what side you stand, archivist,” the gladiator scorned.

His servos pressed harder, only for a moment, before he released Orion Pax from his frighteningly tight grasp.